ARIA today (9/24) announced that multiple GRAMMY and ARIA Award winner Keith Urban, who also recently received 3 CMA Award nominations, will host the 32nd Annual ARIA Awards, Australia’s GRAMMY Awards. It has been over a decade since Urban last graced the ARIA’s stage when back in 2007 he joined John Butler for an unforgettable performance. Urban’s unprecedented history as a multiple ARIA and Grammy Award-winning artist and recognition as the steward of Country music in Australia make him the natural choice as host of the 32nd annual ARIA Awards, a role he is undertaking for the first time.
Earlier this year, Urban’s first studio album in nearly two years, GRAFFITI U debuted at #1 in Australia along with #1 positions in Canada and the United States. Urban remains the only male country artist to debut at the top of the all genre charts simultaneously in three countries (U.S., Canada and Australia), a feat that no other male country artist has achieved once, no less twice.
With Urban’s 2018 GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR now completed in Canada, it’s back in the States where it’s seen critically hailed, sold-out performances across the country. The tour heads to Australia in February where it’s already seen sell-outs in Newcastle, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Urban’s last album, the #1 Platinum selling RIPCORD, was the second highest selling album in Australia 2016 and spent 27 weeks in the Top 10 and 46 weeks in the Top 20 of the ARIA Albums Chart. The singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer is no stranger to the ARIA charts with a total of 14 ARIA Platinum-selling singles and albums, earning him a total of five ARIA Awards.
Dan Rosen, Chief Executive ARIA said: “ARIA is honored and excited to welcome back superstar Keith Urban to join us in Sydney to celebrate the 2018 ARIAs. To have one of Australia’s biggest stars host this year’s ceremony is just phenomenal. Australian music fans are in for a real treat.”
Proudly supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, the Australian music industry’s biggest night of celebration is set to make a triumphant return to Sydney on Wednesday, 28th November 2018.
NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall said, “Keith Urban is one of Australia’s greatest musical success stories and we are delighted he will host the 32nd annual ARIA Awards in Sydney, further cementing our Harbour City’s reputation as the nation’s music capital.” Stay tuned to ariaawards.com.au for all 2018 ARIA Awards updates.